The kickoff to the start of the 2017 USAC Midget National Championship season brings the series indoors to the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin for the second running of the “Shamrock Classic.” Numerous companies have pledged their generous support for the Bryan Clauson, Inc. promotion, adding to the “pot of gold” that each competitor will seek on the one-sixth-mile bullring on Saturday, March 18.

Reserved seats are $25.00 for the highly-anticipated event that saw 54 of the best midget drivers in the country in competition. Adult general admission tickets are $20.00; kids 6-12 are $10.00 and kids 5 years-old and under are FREE! Pit passes are $35.00. The purchase of a reserved seat provides you a free pit pass! Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.usactickets.com/.
Among the companies offering prizes and bonuses for winning the 50-lap midget feature are Simpson Race Products, who will award a brand-new helmet to the victor. Cold Hard Art has created a “Pot of Gold” trophy that will be presented to the winning driver and team in victory lane.
Drivers on the move will have the opportunity to cash in on the bonuses being served up. The “Wheelman of the Race” will earn a Max Papis Innovations (MPI) steering wheel for his or her efforts. The driver advancing the most positions during the “Shamrock Classic” will earn “Hard Charger” honors courtesy of Elliott’s Custom Trailers.
Furthermore, the third-place finisher in each heat race will receive a prize from FK Shocks. Ben Hodgin has thrown in $100 to the driver who leads lap 39 of the feature.

In 2016, Fremont, California’s Shane Golobic used the outside line to race past Shane Cottle, then led the remaining 17 laps to score his first career USAC National Midget feature victory in the inaugural “Shamrock Classic.”
The timetable of events at the Southern Illinois Center for the “Shamrock Classic” begins with participant parking on March 17 (Friday) from 4-7 pm. Saturday’s race-day schedule begins with pits opening at 8 am, followed by a “pit sweep” at noon. Spectator gates open at 1 pm. A public drivers’ meeting open to all race fans starts at 3:30 pm. Hot laps get under way at 4 pm with racing set for 5:30pm.
Fans who are unable to attend the event in-person can view the race LIVE on http://www.speedshifttv.com/.